Sox's Dunn not going anywhere

Contract means slugger will be back in '14, and GM Hahn says talk of platooning him is premature

September 24, 2013|By Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune reporter

(Scott Strazzante/Tribune photo)

Adam Dunn called out to Robin Ventura as the White Sox manager strolled past his locker Monday afternoon, then pulled out a golf club and showed off his putting.

The Sox will have plenty of time to practice their putting this offseason, thanks in no small part to the lack of offense from Dunn and Co.

Ventura sat Dunn for a third straight game Monday as the Sox and Blue Jays played a makeup game of a June rainout before a few thousand fans on the South Side.

With the season winding down and a left-hander on the mound in J.A. Happ, Ventura inserted Jeff Keppinger into the designated hitter spot and played rookie Marcus Semien at third. Dunn is hitting .120 in 28 games since Aug. 28, and Ventura said he looked "tired" in Detroit.

"That's where we're at again," Ventura said. "They know we're going to have some other guys play and mix them in there. (Dunn) will be in there (Tuesday in Cleveland)."

With one year at $15 million remaining on his four-year, $56 million deal, Dunn's return in 2014 is virtually certain. No one is likely to take Dunn's contract off the Sox's hands this winter, so fans will have put up with his low batting average and strikeouts until next July at least.

But whether or not Dunn should be given a lesser role in what looks to be a partial rebuild is a touchy subject the Sox may have to delve into this winter when building next year's roster.

Should Dunn be given the benefit of the doubt after hitting a combined .196 over his first three years with the Sox? Or should they platoon the slugger, sitting him against left-handers?

"I don't think we're at that point yet," general manager Rick Hahn said Monday. "I think we need to see what the roster looks like, see how he comes back, how he looks and see what the options are for Robin. Ultimately the lineup is his call, so especially given that we aren't sure what the roster is going to look like, it's premature to pigeonhole anyone into a lesser role than they have right now."

Dunn entered Monday hitting .192 in 140 plate appearance against left-handers this season, with 10 extra-base hits and a .375 slugging percentage. Overall, Sox DHs came into Monday hitting .216 with a .286 on-base percentage and a .375 slugging percentage.

"Oakland is a great example of a platoon situation that's working out real nice," Hahn said. "I do think in Dunner's case it's probably a little premature for where he's at in his career. I know he's scuffled the last couple of weeks, but there was a stretch from June 1 until a couple weeks ago where he was probably our best offensive player, playing every day against righties and lefties."

Dunn has played a lot of first base this year because of Paul Konerko's injuries, and if Konerko retires or signs elsewhere, Dunn could be there even more in 2014.

"I obviously enjoy playing first, but I know what I signed up for," Dunn said. "For the most part, I had a pretty good routine down, so I didn't feel like I was pinch-hitting four or five times per game. I'm fine with whatever. Play first, outfield, I could care less."